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Origin and history

The castle of Merlemont, located in Warluis in the Oise (Hauts-de-France), finds its first mentions in the 12th century under the name of "Vieux Castel", occupied by the Lord Roscelin of Merlemont. The estate, passed through the centuries, passes in particular to Pierre de Turgis in the 15th century, then to his son-in-law Louis de Courtils, whose family still preserves it today. In 1530, Louis 1st of the Courtils erected the wing of the "new house" at the northeast end, marking a phase of modernization of the castle.

In the 16th century, the castle became a landmark in religious history: it was here that Odet de Coligny, bishop of Beauvais, converted to Protestantism in 1561. This event triggered a conflict with the crown, leading to the destruction of the castle by Catholic troops. The following centuries saw the estate enriching with outbuildings (common, wash, farm) and landscape arrangements, such as the 8 aisles of charmilles or the dovecote, desired by John de Courtils III in 1675. However, a fire ravaged some of the site around 1736, and the Revolution destroyed the family coat of arms on the pediment.

The 19th century brought about major transformations: the wing of the new house was replaced in 1858 by a classical brick and stone construction, while the castle suffered severe damage during the 1944 bombings, with the Germans being occupied to launch V1. Reconstruction began in 1965 with a neoclassical western facade, followed by regular restoration campaigns since 1995. Today, the castle, partially protected since 1979 and 2020, includes in its inscription the park, the dryer, the washhouse, and the large retaining wall, testimonies of its architectural and historical evolution.

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